How do you know if your skincare is expired?

May 18

Look for this symbol on the back of the bottle

PAO icon (period after opening)

9M ~ 12M ~ 18M ~ 24M

This is how many months your product is good after opening.

Why the PAO matters:

Once opened, products are exposed to:

~ air

~ light

~ bacteria

Some active ingredients break down fast

(vitamin C especially)

Do this everytime:

When you open a product:

~ Check the PAO

~ Grab a sharpie (I keep one with my skincare)

~ Write the toss date on the bottle

Only do this when you open the product for the first time. That’s when the clock starts.

Signs it time to toss it

~ Smell changes

~ Color darkens (oxidation)

~ Texture feels off

~ It’s past the PAO

At this point, it’s not helping your skin anymore.

When in doubt, toss it out.

If you can’t remember when you bought it or the bottle shows signs of wear, it’s time to let it go.

(no matter how much you paid for it)

Simple habits that make a difference

→ Dispense with clean hands (or clean spatula for jars)

→ Don’t share products

→ Store away from heat and sunlight

→ Leave products in their original containers

→ Pumps over jars (when possible)

→ Expired SPF = unreliable protection

Skincare can be very expensive.

Protect your investment:

Don’t buy more than you can use within 1 year.

Always adhere to proper storage guidelines.

Laurel Ahearn

The Skin Microbiome